Big Ten basketball notebook: Indiana's Sampson under fire

When it comes to image repair or damage control, Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson only concerns himself with the basketball court. He has no power over the court of public opinion and the NCAA.

John Supinie

When it comes to image repair or damage control, Indiana coach Kelvin Sampson only concerns himself with the basketball court. He has no power over the court of public opinion and the NCAA.

Sampson's reputation and Indiana's image took a beating after the school announced earlier this month that Sampson and his staff made 45 impermissible phone calls after he was hired in May 2006.

"You can control what you can control,'' Sampson said Sunday during the Big Ten Conference media day event. "The season starts Sunday (for the Hoosiers). We're going to put the best product we possibly can on the floor. That's the only thing we can control at this point.''

Indiana forfeited one scholarship and didn't award Sampson a $500,000 bonus. Sampson was already serving sanctions for his staff making 577 impermissible calls while he was Oklahoma coach.

The school awaits the NCAA's review. Insiders close to the program feel Sampson may still lose his job. Meanwhile, the Hoosiers wonder how an investigation and any possible sanctions might affect this season and their coach's future.

"That's in the back of our minds,'' Indiana forward D.J. White said. "The players hope nothing bad happens to coach. At the same time, we want to play our season. You look at him in practice or go to his office and talk, you wouldn't know anything is going on.

"(A postseason ban) would be very hard to take. Hopefully it doesn't come down to that. If sanctions happen, hopefully they don't hurt this team or the coaches.''

"Everyone expects three things from our coaches,'' Delany said. "The coaches should educate. They should abide by the rules, and they need to win. They're highly compensated people. They're not going to be here if they don't win. The first two things precede the last.

"I think Kelvin is disappointed. Indiana has expressed its disappointment, and I would express my disappointment.''

Spartans, Pruitt honored

While Illinois senior center Shaun Pruitt was named to the preseason all-Big Ten team, Michigan State earned the preseason favorite roll in a media vote conducted by the league office. Indiana finished second and Ohio State third in the preseason balloting.

Michigan State senior guard Drew Neitzel received preseason player of the year. Pruitt, Neitzel, White, Ohio State guard Jamar Butler and Penn State forward Geary Claxton were chosen for the preseason all-Big Ten team.

The Illinois women were picked to finish third in the Big Ten in the coaches’ vote and sixth in the media balloting. Ohio State is the league's preseason favorite in both polls. Illinois junior guard Lori Bjork earned a spot on the preseason all-Big Ten team in both polls.

Big Ten network

Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany doesn't expect the conference to sign contracts soon with Comcast or the three other major cable providers concerning the Big Ten Network. The league won't budge from its demand to be placed on basic cable.

"I can't be optimistic about getting a deal done with Comcast and any of these four,'' said Delany, also referring to Mediacom, Time Warner and Charter cable systems. "We've been talking this summer and fall. I've got no reason to believe that it's more likely to happen in the future.

"We haven't come out and said that, but we may.''

John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.